Usually, the first definition that comes with the word see is: to perceive (to become aware of, know, or identify) with the eyes. Or the verb see is defined by something similar to that.

Our eyes tell us so much. Their windows to the soul, beacons of danger, and many of the things we enjoy are usually done with some need of sight (such as watching TV). With all the things we use sight for, it’s pretty important. Though, do we rely on it too much?

I have been doing this course, Wonder Lit (click to find out more). It’s an amazing course that takes you through a journey by dissecting a fairytale personal to you. And you don’t dissect it by trying to see the story’s structure and the character roles. You dissect it personally. Why this story? Why do you like this part? What are you not seeing?

The tale I chose was Petronella. A story I had read thousand times from this small, weak binded, bent, and a bit torn pink princess book I still have. A handsome (the book says this) princess with flaming red hair and a sword strapped to her belt, goes on a journey to prove that she can find her fortune and save a prince. I won’t spoil the ending because it’s my favorite part. And the course helped me find out why.

As I was studying and rereading the end of Petronella, the scripture 1 Samuel 16:7 came to mind.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”’

1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV

Throughout the tale, the reader is simply told how things look. Yet at the end, there’s nothing to look at. Just two people realizing something they had not seen before. A tale of love was weaved before our eyes and it overcame the hardest obstacle, perceived notions. The princess thought something looked dangerous and mysterious to her, so it was dangerous and mysterious. The prince she saved was handsome, so he had to be a prince, right?

In that scripture, 1 Samuel 16:7, Samuel is trying to find a king. Samuel’s first instinct to find a leader, is by sight. And so many times, just like Samuel and the princess in Petronella, when we look for something to follow or we trying to find something, we do it by sight. By what looks or seems good to us. Though, just like Samuel and the princess, we cannot see everything.

We only see and know in part. When Samuel told God about what he saw, God immediately reminded Samuel that there was more than just how a man looked. In that story, there was more to the situation than what the princess saw. There is always more.

I learned that through God and my job. God taught me that teaching is not about seeing people and assuming what they need. It’s about learning the student and encouraging them to be better. I can’t live off the first thing I see. I can’t run after it. I have to run to God. I have to be open in seeing things a different way. I have to be open to what He sees. Then, through God, I can truly and clearly see what I need to do.